Delhi government to respond on plea against ban on chewable tobacco

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court today sought response of the city government on a plea of manufacturers against ban on sale of chewable tobacco in the national capital from March 30.

Justice Rajiv Shakdher issued notice to Food Safety Commissioner of the Delhi government while restraining it from taking any action against sellers till the next date of hearing on May 20.

"Issue notice. The respondent should not take any coercive action against the sellers and the manufacturers till the next date of hearing," the judge said.

The court's notice was issued on a plea by a manufacturer SK Tobacco Industries, which has sought quashing of the notification by the Arvind Kejriwal government, banning sale, purchase and storage of all forms of chewable tobacco including "gutkha, khaini and zarda" in the National Capital.